Furnace construction



Dec. 24, 1963 1 s, LONGENECKER 3,115,336

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov. 5. 1958 6 Sheets-Shea?I 1 com INVENTOR Lew' S. Longenecker -H/S ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1963 Original Filed Nov. 5, 1958 L. S. LONGENECKER FURNACE CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 30) 50 1NVENTOR 3o Fig. 3 Levi S. Longenecker BYuuv (mm/ H/.S` ATTORNEYS 1 s. LoNGENEcKER 3,115,336

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Dec. 24, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 coNTRoL MoToR MoToR SW'TCH CONTROL`69c| 69J 690 69 GEAR uNlT swlTcH Original Filed Nov. 5. 1958 lNvENToR Lew S. Longenecker im/km 6% HIS ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1963 s. LoNGENEcKl-:R 3,115,336

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov. 5. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 & i

INVENTOR Lew 5. Longenec/rer H/.S` ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1963 L. s. LONGENECKER 3,115,336

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov. 5. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 78 I 78 45h ,i5 55, 556g 557 45h 45a 'I e sa i 45 F i g.6

INVENTOR Levi S. Longenecker Bwm 5% H/.S` ATTRNE YS Dec. 24, 1963 l.. s. LoNGENl-:CKER 3,115,336

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Nov. 5. 1958 INVENTOR. Levi S. Lahgenecker mffm 4M Fltlwlll.;

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H/.S` ATTRMEYS United States Patent O 3,115,336 FURNACE CNSTRUCTIN Levi S. Longeneciier, 6l Mayfair Drive, Pittsburgh 2S, Pa.

Original application Nov. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 772,650, now Patent No. 3,003,650, dated Oct. 10, i962'. Divided and this application .lune 29, 1961, Ser. No. 120,543

9 Claims. (Ci. 263-46) This invention pertains to a furnace for high temperature melting and more particularly, to door construction for facilitating the charging of larger quantities of irregular shaped material, such as scrap metal, into a melting furnace, such as an open hearth furnace.

This application is a division of my earlier tiled copending application Serial No. 772,650, led November 5, 1958, now U.S. Patent No. 3,003,650, and entitled Material Handling which is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 53 6,347, filed September 26, 1955, and entitled Roof Charging.

In charging open hearth furnaces, conventional procedure involves the utilization of a series of charging boxes carried on buggies that run on rails in front of the furnaces. A peel is employed to successively engage each box and, after a furnace door has been raised vertically, move it into the furnace and rotate it to discharge the scrap material. Boxes for this purpose have a capacity in the neighborhood of 35 to 50 cubic feet and it is customary to carry four boxes on each buggy. A minimum time for charging each box is about one minute which, for four boxes of about 4800 pounds of scrap, involves a minimum period of about four minutes.

The present-day practice has been towards the employment of larger and larger capacities of open hearth furnaces and this poses a problem from the standpoint of apparatus and operations for charging them with scrap. It is my opinion that because of limitations in this connection, the operation of large open hearth shops has been throttled down to about 80% of what should be their maximum output rate.

Scrap charging is a vitally important phase of open hearth operation, in that metal processing may ordinarily employ a charge consisting of about 35% to 60% of scrap material. To, in some since meet the need for faster scrap charging, the present-day tendency has been to increase the size and number of charging doors. This does not solve the problem, since we still have the so-called thimble-size boxes and cumbersome, complicated train lengths and installations. For example, a 300 ton open hearth furnace on a forty percent practice, will require 120 tons of scrap and this will have to be delivered in front of the furnace by about 50 buggies or 200 boxes. For good melting-down efficiency, the scrap should be charged as quickly as possible and in a manner that favors combustion volume and exposes the maximum amount of scrap surface to the flame.

In evaluating the problem, I reached the conclusion that the only practical approach is to provide a much larger size of charging box than heretofore utilized and to find some method of effectively handling, utilizing and discharging such a type of box. Further, such charging should be effected in a manner so as to avoid damage to the hearth floor and minimize loss of heat during the charging operation. When using larger boxes, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the safety of the operating personnel.

In my Patent No. 2,656,055, I was able to devise a charging device which marked a definite forward step from the conventional scrap box utilization. By employing the construction of such patent, I have been able to carry a much larger capacity of scrap in one box and to ice effectively charge it through the front door of an open hearth furnace. This construction has found favorable reception in utilization, but I have determined that the trend is for still larger capacities of charging means and for means that will eliminate the need for train and track installations as well as delivery-effecting peel means. In this connection, it will be apparent that there is a practical limitation in the number and size of scrap boxes that may be effectively used for a given open hearth furnace installation. This limit has been approached in present-day practice and, as pointed out above, has resulted in belowcapacity operations.

Thus, it has been an object of my invention to solve the problem presented due to the need for increased sizes and capacities of open hearth furnaces and essentially, from the standpoint of effectively and eciently charging them with scrap material;

Another object has been to fully develop and meet factors which enter into the problem and to provide a construction which fully meet such factors;

A further object has been to devise and provide a practical overhead type of charging operation and construction as applied to an open hearth furnace;

A still further object has been to eliminate conventional buggy-carried and charging-machine scrap charging and to provide a new approach to the charging of open hearth furnaces;

These and other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a side view in partial section and elevation illustrating a furnace installation employing the construction of my invention, including a charging box.

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to and on the same scale as FIGURE l, but showing a swinging door construction or assembly of my invention in an open position as contrasted to the closed position of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a front view in elevation on a greatly reduced scale of a front end of a full furnace construction illustrating the employment of structure of my invention with conventional furnace structure; this figure shows three conventional and two swinging door constructions, with a charging box in an operative position above one of the swinging constructions;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental top plan view of the same scale as FIGURES l and 2 and particularly illustrating the operative position of a charging box of my construction above or over the furnace for cooperative use with a swinging door construction;

FIGURE 5 is "a `front view in elevation of an enlarged scale of the swinging door construction of my invention with plate member 38 of FIGURE l removed;

FIGURE 6 is 'a horizontal section along the line VI- VI of FIGURE 5 and on the same scale as such figure; however, FIGURE 6 shows the plate member 38 in position;

FIGURE 7 is an `enlarged side fragmental section further illustrating the swinging door construction of my invention, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, and on the same scale as such iigures;

FIGURE 8 is a forward end view on the same scale as FIGURE 7 and taken `along the line VIII-VIII of such figure;

FIGURE 9 is an end section, partially broken away, and taken along the -line IX-IX of FIGURE 7 and on an enlarged scale `with respect to such figure;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmental horizontal section, on the same scale as FIGURE 9, and taken along the line X-X of FIGURES; and

FIGURE ll is ia schematic isometric view of the swinging door construction on a reduced scale and illustrating cooling fluid jacketing, the circulating system, and cooling fluid llo-w therealong.

In arriving at my invention, I made a rather radical approach to the problem, in the sense that I determined that it could `only lbe solved in 'a practical manner by top or roof charging and that top or yroof charging could actually be successfully accomplished as applied to large open hearth furnaces.

It is well recognized that in electric arc furnace utilizations employing small to medium-size furnaces, it has been customary to raise or side-pivot the entire roof on a vertical axis, so that scrap material may 'be introduced directly. However, even in such a utilization in larger size furnaces, 'the practice has 'been to avoid top charging and to go to door charging as in an open hearth furnace. That is, it becomes impractical to raise or pivot a rfurnace roof above certain sizes, regardless of the type of heating operation which is involved. Also, the larger the furnace generally the greater the height Vof drop and the more danger of damage to the bottom during the charging operation.

As distinguished from an electric arc furnace, the problern of roof charging is morercomplex as to an open hearth furnace and to my knowledge, has never been accomplished by those skilled in the art. One reason is the relatively complex and heavy arch roof construction of an open hearth and the heat loss which would ensue from even temporarily removing such a roof for charging purposes. Headroom and clearance spacing are also important factors entering into the problem.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an entirely new form of door construction, that will control `and open a localized charging :area of sufficient and efficient size in the roof of an open hearth furnace, and that will provide a maximum effectiveness of scrap charging as utilized with a scrap box, with a minimum loss of heat, and without the necessity `for other than remote manipulations by the operator.

An integral door, gate or portal structure is pendent or mounted for Vtop and bottom swinging or pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, as distinguished from the normal side swinging movement about a vertical axis that may be employed for the complete roof of a small or medium-size electric-arc furnace. The special door construction 35 shown has two parts or sections A and B that are located in an angular relationship with each other. One (a substantially vertical closure or front) part A constitutes a part of the front wall structure of the furnace and the other (a roof, substantially horizontal cover or top) part B constitutes a part of the arch or roof structure. Such parts or sections are integral, extend in an angular relationship with each other, and are supported by an axis that is shown as lying beyond or above their connecting portion, apex or angle. The substantial L-shape of the construction and its type of mounting enable it to be easily swung from a closed to any suitable intermediate open position. The to-the-left offset location of its center of gravity is such that when released, it will tend to swing clockwise (to the left of FIGURE 1) towards an open relationship with respect to the main body of the roof (see FIGURE 2). I also contemplate a door which essentially comprises section B extended at its lower end to cooperate with a permanent vertical side or front wall of the furnace 25. It will be noted that the swing door of my invention is of a type such that it, in effect, only partially opens and to the extent necessary for the introduction of feed discharge from an above-positioned feed chute C. That is, the furnace door of my invention is a corner-mounted swing door that is operatively mounted as to a feed opening of the furnace. The furnace 25 may have a suitable number of doors and of corner feed openings depending upon its size or capacity.

The means for mounting and operating the door construction is located out-of-line with respect to direct furnace heat and in such a manner, that when the construction is in its open position, the front openingin the furnace that has been exposed by an outward or forward displacement of the front or vertical part A is substantially closedoff by the roof part B that has been displaced downwardly to expose a top feed opening or charging area. The latter is, in turn, at least partially closed-off by a feed or charging scrap box 149. In addition, the box is employed in such a manner as to quickly and effectively deliver scrap material downwardly into the furnace 25 in an inclined or in a declining path of movement, directed towards the back of the furnace, arid in such a manner that the vertical distance of travel of the scrap to the hearth floor is minimized.

The charging box or device I@ may be moved into an operative position on top of the furnace, entirely by hoist means, to a position in substantial alignment with the roof part of my swinging door structure 35, so that it is in this overhead position when the door is swung or moved clockwise towards an open position. The charging device or box llt) has a pivoted chute-like bottom which is then manipulated to project into the then-exposed top opening in the furnace and to decline or extend backwardly therein and behind the downwardly-swung position of the roof part B.

During the operation of the charging box or device, its forward or leading end is pivoted on wheels or rollers which rest on a roof track or guide 64 anud along which it may be moved by one of an operating pair of overhead hoist means. This makes possible a back and forward stroking of the device or box I@ near the end of the charging operation which may be supplemented by a vertical stroking of its swing bottom portion by a second hoist of the operating pair. In this manner, scrap is completely discharged and with ultimate of speed. For example, employing a construction of my present invention, I have been able to completely discharge a box containing i() cubic feet or more of scrap material of, say 30 to 60 pounds weight per cubic foot, tin about two minutes of operation. A single box or device lil of my construction will take, handle and feed a charging load which is greater than that which can be taken, and handled and fed by forty scrap boxes of a normal 35 cubic foot capacity. Thus, I save a minimum o-f 40 minutes less 2 minutes or 3S minutes in charging time, alone.

The Charging Device The device It) is independent of any plant track and car layout system and may be entirely handled by overhead hoist means, such as a pair of hoist elements 20 and ZI of a crane construction (see FIGURE 2). That is, the device Itl may be loaded at some suitable location in the shop and then carried by hoist means to an operative position on top of the furnace which is to be charged and into association with a feed portion or charging area in its roof.

The roof structure of the furnace is provided with a relatively short length of track or a restricted guide and support 64 to receive rollers or wheels I6 at one end of the device Ill, to aid in supporting it during the delivery of scrap and to facilitate a so-called stroking movement of the device, such as lmay be employed during a latter .portion of a scrap-charging operation. In other words, the device 16 is provided with a pair of transversely spacedapart projecting mount ears at one end thereof that carry cross shaft 17 on which wheels I6 are rotatably secured, so that it may be operated as a tilt cart and utilized in a highly effective Vmanner to deliver raw or scrap material.

The construction and its manner of utilization are such that a relatively large size device l@ may be employed, say in the neighborhood of 1600 cubic 'feet capacity or more, and is shown as having a body portion Ill made up of vertically-extending and transversely spaced-apart side wall portions 11a, and inteeral and connecting front and back side (end wall) portions Ila and 11b. Its front end portion is provided with a tapered feed chute bottom member or portion 11d which declines backwardly of the furnace and is integral with the portions 11a and 11b and projects at its lower end to an intermediate length portion of the device or box to dene the forward limit of its extending, open-bottom or feed-mouth portion 11e. The lower end of the member 11d thus slopes or projects towards the back end portion of the melting furnace and forwardly with respect to the direction of feed of the scrap material and in a cooperating relation with the back end portion of a swing feed chute member 12.

A swing chute member 12 of substantially U-shape extends from the intermediate length portion of the box 11i, towards its back, and along its open feed portion. At its back end, the swing chute 12 is provided with a pair of swing pivot hinges 13 that are mounted on the box 11 beneath the forward feed end of the fixed or stationary chute portion 11d and adjacent the back end portion of or somewhat intermediate the longitudinal extent of the box 11.

As disclosed particularly in FIGURE l, the swing chute 2 is adapted to completely close-off the open bottom portion 11e of the box part 11, and also to swing downwardly or decline from its hinges 13 and into the furnace 25 (see FIGURE 2). By way of illustration, I have shown by dot and dash lines a preliminary open feed position C and a final position D.

The raising, lowering and stroking of the feed chute part 12 is accomplished by means of a U-shaped, bifurcated frame structure, yoke or fork member 14. The structure 14 has a top and cross connecting portion 14e carrying an eye portion 14a. to receive a hook part 20a of a hoist, such as (see FIGURE 2).

For moving the device 1? from one horizontal position to another and for stroking or reciprocating it in its feed position, I have provided the rear portion with a series of transversely spaced-apart and outwardly-projecting tabs or ears 18h. The ears receive and are secured by welding to support a hoist shaft or rod 19. The hoist shaft or rod 19 is adapted to receive the hook portions 21a of a hoist 21 (see also FIGURES 1 and 2).

The Furnace Construction Referring particularly to FIGURES l and 2, I have shown an open hearth furnace 25 constructed to utilize the charging structure of my invention. The furnace 25 has a refractory hearth floor or bottom portion 25a, a refractory front stub wall or bank portion 2511, a refractory front end wall portion 25e, a refractory back wall 25e, and a refractory sprung arch or roof 25d that extends from the back end of the furnace to its front wall 25e and thus, above the major portion of the furnace, exclusive of the portions thereof served by the swing doors 35 of my invention, but including conventional slide doors 34, as disclosed in FIGURES 3, 4 and 10. The structure and mounting of the main roof section or part 25d is shown employing the basic design disclosed and illustrated in my Patent No. 2,738,744 of March 20, 1956, entitled Furnace Refractory Structure and Mounting. This is also true as to the construction and principles of mounting refractory brick or tile employed for parts A and B of my swing door construction 35.

As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 3, the furnace 25 has a conventional door sill level, see the top of sills and the height of molten material a, showing the increased height of door sills 31 employed for swing doors 35. A metal back frame structure 26 projects upwardly along the furnace 25 to cooperate with metal roof frame members 28 and arch beam or support members for the structure 25d. Cross channel members 27a, 27b, and 27C reinforce the structures 26, 28, 81, and 31 and the interconnected relationship therebetween.

The overhead or roofing frame structure 28 carries an overhead guide or platform structure or track 64 for each swing door unit and on which wheels 16 of the scrap car or box 10 are adapted to pivot and move. It will be noted that the car or box 1i) is pivotally moved on wheels 16 substantially horizontally along the member 64 and between its forward or front stop abutment 64a and its relatively higher, back or rear abutment portion 64b.

By way of illustration, in FIGURE 3, I have shown a pair of special doors 35 of my swing construction and a series of intermediate, conventional slide-lift doors 34 (see also FIGURES 4 and l0). Any suitable type of doors 34 may be used (including those described in my Patents Nos. 2,494,713; 2,594,188; and 2,681,642), in order that front openings in the wall 25e will be exposed by raising the doors 34 with respect to side mountings 33 and by means of motor-driven chain or cable lift mechanisms, see FIGURE 3.

To reinforce and provide stnuctural 'framework for the front portion of the furnace 25, a series of transversely spaced-apart front vertical upright members or beams are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with each other to be secured to the top framework members 28. One set of vertical upright frame members 32 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) is employed for pivoting each special or swing door construction 35, and a pair of members 33 is -in a like manner provided for guiding and positioning each conventional door construction 34. As shown, metal bottom sill members 30 are provided for the doors 34 and similar height bottom door siill members 30a are provided for special doors 35 to `operate with an upper fore tor supplemental sill member As shown particularly in FIGURES 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings, the swing door 35 has a lower and substantially vertically-extending front or fore closure part A and :a backwardly-extending and slightly upwardly-inclined, substantially horizontally-extending, radial, suspended roof arch closure part B. As shown -in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the fore or upright part A of the door 35 has a compartment-defining, substantially horizontallyextending bottom header and hollow frame member 36, and a pair of vertical side header and :hollow side frame members 37 which are connected thereto and project upwardly therefrom to `define a substantially U-shaped construction, looking from its front side. As shown particularly in FIGURE 6, the part A is enclosed by a metal front sheathing 38- which is secured to flange portion 36a of the bottom member 35 (see FIGURE 7), to sides of the members 37 and to outer flanges of members 40, to define spacing that is upwardly open of the roof part B. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the 'front sheathing 38 carries a series of transversely spaced-.apart and verticallyextending, short-length support members 4t) of I-beam construction. Back anges of the support members 40 receive hangers '7dl (see my before-mentioned Patent No. 2,738,744). The hangers 701 carry refractory blocks 71 which, as shown in FIGURE 6, have suitably located, corrugated metall expansion members 72.

Also shown particularly in FIGURE 6, the front assembly of blocks 711 is held in position along its sides by the vertical side header `or frame members 37 of hollow construction, at the bottom by the tranverse header 36 (see FIGURES 5 and 7), and at the top by a cross channel 39 which carries a blocl engaging, transverselyextending and suspended angle piece member 61. T-he top sill channel 39 of the door part A also carries a transversely-extending beam member 41 which is secured thereto and which -is secured at its ends to the vertical side members 37. The upper ends of the verticallyprojecting and transversely spaced-apart I-beam support members 40 for the refractory block are secured to the channel member 39 and their lower ends are secured to the bottom sill and header member 36.

It is thus apparent that the door part A is strongly made of metal members and in a form of framework which supports protective refractory tile or block along its inner face or towards the inside of the furnace 25 to protect such parts from the intense heat of the furnace. The side members 37 project vertically-upwardly beyond the upper cross member 39 and each carries a bearing mount 419 Whose bore 49a is adapted to rotatably receive pivot or swing pins or elements 60. The pins eti extend into and are secured (see particularly FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 7) to vertical side support members 32 at the front of the furnace support framework structure. rl'hus, the special door 35 of my invention is adapted to swing on the pins `titi with respect to the members 32 and o-n the members 37.

The upper or roof part B of my swing door construction also has :a metal framework which carries or suspends an inner lining of refractory block or tile. As shown particularly in FIGURES 7 and 9, longitudinally-extending (front to back extending with respect to the furnace) side support members 42., as shown of I-beam construction, carry transversely-extending and longitudinally spaced-part cross members 4d, also as shown of I-beam construction. Block hangers 73 similar to hangers 7d, carry tor suspend refractory blocks 74 which are of similar Vconstruction to the blocks 7i and which as groups, may be separated by corrugated expansion, filler members 75.

As shown particulanly in FIGURES 7 and 9, the back end portions of the longitudinally-extending side beam members ft2 are secured -to `and are suspended from overhead -beam members 47 which, as also shown in FIG- URES 5 and 7, 4are at their upper or front end portions secured to upper portions oi the door frame members 37. Angle pieces 43 (see FIG-URE 7) `are employed for reinforcing the xed or secured relationship between the side beams 412 and the overhead suspension beams 47. The refractory block assembly oi the roof part B, at its back end, abuts against a hollow back header member 45 and along its sides by metal banding members 54 (see FIGURES 7 and 9).

Cooling System The banding members 54%` have a series of outwardlyprojecting, side finger or shelf portions 54a which carry and to which are secured a series of Huid-circulating, conduit pipe or tubing members. A lower pair 53a of such members serve as an inflow pair or set for cooling iiuid andan upper pair Sfb serve :as an exhaust or outflow pair or set.

As shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and l1, the intlow conduit set 53a introduces cooling fluid or water into a lower chamber of the header member 45, Iwhile ythe outow set 5313 exhausts iluid from the upper chamber of the member 45. It will be noted that the upper and lower chambers are defined by a horizontal partition member 55 and are subdivided centrally by a vertical baffle member 56. Fluid-how passageways or ports 55a are provided adjacent the partition 56 at inner-transverse ends of each half portion of the chambers to provide a flow of tluid, as indicated by the arrows oi FIGURE 8, see also FIGURE 11.

The vertical baffle 56 separates the opposite halves or transverse portions of the width of the header 45 into segregated chambers, as also shown in FIGURE 8. As a result, the lower set of conduits 53a along one side of the roof part B supply cooling iluid for one half section (comprising an upper and lower chamber) and the lower set of conduits 53b `along the other side supply cooling fl-uid for the other half section. As shown in FIGURE 8, the lower or inow conduit set 53a are connected to the lower chamber by ports d50 in the member 45, while the upper or outflow set 5311 are connected to the rupper chamber by ports 451).

4Referring panticularly to FIGURES 6 to 9 'and 11, cooling fluid, such as water for the door construction may be supplied by flexible piping or conduit (not shown) connected to upper feed inlet ends 50 of a fluid circulating piping system. As shown by the -arrows in these iigures, the cooling fluid hows downwardly along vertical side branches Sti that are carried by the members 37, into horizontal branches 5dr: and along the top portion of the door part A, downwardly along vertical branch members 5011 near the transverse center of the door part A, and then into the bottom header 36.

The bottom header 36, like the bottom of the back header 45, has a central vertical bathe 5I dividing it into side chamber sections or halves. Thus, one of the branches Sith introduces cooling iiuid downwardly into the inner end of one chamber portion and the other branch member 5919 serves in the same manner for the other end of the bottom header member 36. The cooling iluid then passes through a pair of passageways, ports or openings 52a in end baffles 52 (see particularly FIG- URES 5, 7 and ll and into bottom ends of the vertical header members 37. Fluid-how is then upwardly along the members 37, as limited by horizontally-inclined batlles 57 which segregate upper and lower halves of the members 37 into upper and lower chambers (see FIGURES 5 and 7).

Adjacent the bathe member 57, the cooling fluid enters front or lower ends of the lower side conduit members 53a and flows in the previously-described manner and, as indicated by the arrows, through the chambers of the back header 45 into upper or back ends of the upper side pairs of conduits 53h, forwardly and downwardly into the lower end ot the upper chambers of the members 37, and then vertically-upwardly along such chambers and outwardly adjacent the upper ends of the members 37 through discharge or exhaust outlet ends 59. rThe outlets 59 may also be connected by flexible tubing (not shown), so the iuid may be again cooled and recirculated back through the inlets 5t).

Further Structure It will be noted that the back header 45 is carried on a transversely-extending angle member 46 which is secured to extend across between the side beam members 42. I have, in FIGURE 6, shown heat-resistant plastic iiller portions '7% of wedge-shape along back ends of the side frame members 37 and, in FIGURE 9, I have shown the use of similar portions 78 of wedge shape along top and bottom portions of conduit member sets, pairs of assemblies 53a and 53h. Also, as shown in FIGURE 6, vertical angle strips 76 are secured to the side members 37 as side sealing members for the front part A of the swing door 35. As disclosed, the members '76 extend across to abut against front wall blocks 25e of the furnace Z5 at the front opening for the door construction.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2, the sprung arch portion 25d of the roof construction at its front face and along sides of each roof opening for each door construction 35, has a hollow facing member S5 of metal positioned thereaiong. The member may, as shown, be secured to the front ends of the longitudinally-arched support members dit to project transversely-vertically therefrom and form a seal with a face such as the declining face 45C of my swing door construction 35, see also FIGURE 7. In a similar manner (see particularly FIGURE 9, the longitudinal sides of the refractory block roof structure that deine side portions of the feeding or charging opening for special door construction may, as shown, have hollow sealing members 85 for sealing abutment with sides of the swing door 35. The side seal members 35' are secured to and carried by longitudinallyextending and arched, full length, supporting members Si of fully covered portions of the roof construction.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, in operating the swing door construction 35, I prefer to swing it or drop it clockwise to any suitable open position and preferably, with a maximum stroke of less than about 50. I found this to be suliicient for the full and effective utilization of a scrap charging box such as It). Thus, under these conditions, the box It) may be fully stroked as indicated, for example, by positions C and D of FIGURE 2, to facilitate delivery of scrap and the final delivery of the full content of the box into the furnace 25 without damage to it.

The swinging of the door 35 is a simple operation, since it is normally balanced so as to move to its open position under the influence of its weight or mass distribution and to be raised or pulled to its fully closed position by motor-driven cable and drum means. In FIGURES l and 4, I have somewhat diagrammatically shown means to swing the door 35 between its open position of FIGURE 2 and its closed position of FIGURE 1. This means includes an electric motor 69 having a control switch 69a, a gear unit 68 that is driven by the motor and has winding sheave means, and cables 66 that are guided by idler pulley means 67 to the winding sheave means. The electric motor 69 used may be a reversible type, using a power brake, so as to make possible retaining door structure 35 in any desired position with respect to the furnace 2S and the feed areas which are defined by openings therein.

Although I have, for simplicity of illustration, shown a common carrier or crane x having separate hoist means 20 and 21 (see FIGURE 1) for suspending and actuating the material positioning and charging box assembly or device 10, I also contemplate actuating its cart or more specifically, its wheels 16 by a motor-driven shaft, so that the assembly may be moved longitudinally along the upper framework of the furnace on the track 64 without employing the crane 20a as the actuating means. For example, the box assembly or device lit may have the truck at its front end driven by an eccentric. I have constructed the door or swing closure unit that is made up of wall and roof sectors A and B in a substantialiy angular relationship with each other, so that it is balanced to swing downwardly to an opening position or until it overcomes its angle of repose when it is released by its operating or actuating means; however, it will be apparent that it may be positively actuated in both directions if desired.

Among the important features of my invention is the progressive nature of the feeding operation of the material into the furnace, so that such material may be spread along or backwardly and forwardly on the furnace hearth or floor in a substantially uniform manner, and so that the weight of material fed at a given instant may be proportioned to prevent any damage to the refractory iloor ,or hearth. As shown particularly in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it is apparent that the material being fed as Well as its feeding means act to cloak the open roof portion or feed opening of the furnace. Also, the roof sector or section B of the swing door construction serves to, in effect, cloak the front wall opening at the same time. This, of course, minimizes heat loss which is further minimized by the effective, progressive or stroked feeding of the material intothe furnace.

The oscillation of the inclined or declining feed plane of the chute portion 12 may be both longitudinal and vertical to assure (in a substantially radial plane) a full and complete discharge of the material from the box assembly 10. It will be noted (see FIGURE 2) that the forward portion of the chute 12 may have a spaced relation with the top, back portion of the frame of the roof sector B of the door unit, as provided by the hoist 2t), or may lightly rest thereon to move (pivot and slide) with respect thereto during its oscillation or stroke (see positions C and D, for example). I prefer to stroke the unit lil and its chute 12 by moving the unit substantially horizontally back and forth on its wheels 16, although the hoist 21 may be moved vertically to raise and lower the forward end of the unit. The hoist 20 may be moved vertically to close off the bottom of the unit 10, to provide a maximum limit of inclination for the chute 12, etc., and although both the hoists 20 and 21 may be moved, substantially horizontally (see FIGURE 1) to stroke the unit of its truck or wheels 16, in FIGURES 8A and SB, I have shown a mechanism which may be employed to positively effect the stroking movement to provide a substantially uniform distribution of the scrap metal within the furnace as indicated by b of FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the opera-tion is started from the back full-line position of the unit 10 and forward position with respect to the furnace 25, in which the chute means 12 has a slight angle or delivery slope to deliver the scrap material in a controlled manner and direct -it more towards the back of the furnace chamber 25, and then to advance the device or box 10 forwardly towards the dot and dash position of FIGURE 2 which is backwardly of the furnace 25, while retaining the back end of the chute 12 on a pivoting, horizontally-movable plane and slowly increasing the angle of the slope and delivering the material more -towards the forward end of the furnace chamber During this movement, the forward or feed end portion of the feed or delivery chute 12 may, in effect, be slidably-pivotally supported behind or above its feed end (front end portion) with respect to, and if desired, on the inclined upper or supporting structure of the swing door construction 35. It is essential that in returning from the dot and dash position to the full line position of FIGURE Z that the angle of slope progressively decrease to, in effect, give a top leveling action across the top of the scrap material and in such a manner as to permit such forward movement with respect to the furnace chamber without jamming of the chute 12 within the body of the delivery scrap material in the furnace. It will be further noted that the chute 12 always extends above and inwardly beyond the roof part B of the swing furnace door into the furnace in such a manner that the roof part is protected at all times during the delivery of the scrap material, and further in such a manner that it can be closed without being jammed by the scrap charge in the furnace. This is another important feature of my invention.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted tha-t in accordance with my invention, the box 1d is stably balanced in its suspended relationship, as effected by the hoists 20 and 21 that may, as shown, be carried by the common carrier 20x. That is, I provide the hoist 2,1 with a pair of transversely spaced-apart hooks 21a which cooperate with opposite ends of the cross shaft or rod 19. The hoist 20 cooperates with a central hook '14d of the forked, U-shaped, bifurcated frame or yoke member 14 Whose transversely spaced-apart legs extend downwardly along opposite sides of the box 1d and are directly-pivotally connected to the back end portion of the chute 12. This provides a three-point suspension that effectively prevents any sidewise tilting of the box 16 on its longitudinal axis. It is essential that the box ttt be stable in its suspension while it is being moved in a loaded relation from a loading area or station to its position in substantial vertical alignmen-t with and above the feed open portion of the furnace 25.

In accordance with my invention, the operation of charging a furnace may be remotely controlled without the need for any operator or operators to be located on the support s-tructure or the platform above the furnace roof, for changing the connections of the hoist hooks, for releasing or latching the bottom chute door of the box, etc. It will also be noted that where the furnace is of great depth, such that the material being gravity-introduced does not build up to a height corresponding to the inner end of the chute, that it is possible to effect the full discharge of the material in the box Without a stroking movement. In such a case, the inclination of the chute may be varied by the hoist 20 to effect a gradual feed without damage to the furnace. -It is also possible to raise and lower the back end portion of the box 10 pivotally about its extending back end when the latter is resting on the platform, to tilt the box with respect to the chute to further control the feed of the material.

What I claim is:

1. In a furnace that is to be charged with scrap material for high temperature melting, a support framework for the furnace having roof and wall parts, said support framework having load-carrying members therealong, refractory means suspended from the load-carrying members to define an inner lining for the roof and wall parts, said refractory means for the roof and Wall parts having an open portion at an upper corner portion of the furnace defining a feed opening thereat, a swing door having a unitary frame provided with load-carrying members therealong, refractory blocks suspended from the loadcarrying members of said door to define a unitary roof and wall closure for the feed opening, rigid support members defining a positioning axis above the upper corner portion of the furnace and about which said swing door is pivotal'ly mounted, and means cooperating with said swing door to fully pivotally-swing it about said positioning axis from a closed position with respect to the feed opening in alignment `with said open portion of said roof and Wall parts to an inwardly-declining open position with respect to said open portion and within the feed opening and outwardly of the wall part.

2. In a furnace as defined in claim 1, cooling fiuid headers carried by said swing door and cooperating `with the refractory blocks along said open portion for sealingoff said open portion when said swing door is in its closed position.

3. In a furnace as defined in claim l, a pair of side frame connecting members projecting upwardly from said door adjacent one end thereof and cooperating with said pair of rigid support members for piVotally-mounting said door about said positioning axis.

' 4. In a furnace that is to be charged with scrap material for high temperature melting, a support framework for the furnace having roof and wall parts, said support framework having support load-carrying members therealong, refractory means suspended from the load-carrying members to define an inner lining for the roof and wall parts, said refractory means for said roof and wall parts having an open portion at an upper corner portion of the furnace defining a feed opening thereat, a swing door having a unitary frame provided with load-carrying members therealong, refractory blocks suspended from the lload-carrying members of said swing door to define a unitary roof and wall closure for the feed opening, a pair of support members defining a positioning axis for said door above the upper corner portion of the furnace, a pair of connecting members on said swing door pivotally-mounting said door solely about said positioning axis, and said door being fully pivotally-swingable about said positioning axis from a closed position with respect to the feed opening in alignment with said open portion to an inwardly-declining open position with respect to said open portion and with the feed opening and outwardly o f the wall part.

5. In a furnace as defined in claim 4, a cooling fluid header system extending fully along and about outer reaches of the refractory blocks of said swing door and cooperating with adjacent sides of said open portion for sealing-off said open portion when said swing door is in its ciosed position.

6. In a furnace as defined in claim 4, cooling-fluidjacketing extending in a spaced relation along said unitary frame and along sealing edges of the refractory blocks carried thereby and said pair of connecting members for cooling said swing door during its utilization and for sealing-off said open portion when said swing door is in alignment therewith.

7. in a furnace as defined in claim 4, cable and pulley means connected to a back end portion of said unitary frame for pivotally-swinging said swing door on said positioning axis.

8. In a furnace as defined in claim 7, a reversible motor opera-tively connected to said cable and pulley means for actuating them forwardly and backwardly to move said swing door between its open and closed positions.

9. In a furnace that is to be charged with scrap material for high temperature melting, a suppor-t framework for the furnace having roof and wall parts, said support framework having support load-carrying members therealong, refractory means suspended from the load-carrying members to define an inner :lining for the roof and wall parts, said refractory means for said roof and wall parts having an open portion at an upper corner portion of the furnace defining a feed opening thereat, a swing door having a unitary frame of angular shape provided with roof and wall parts and load-carrying members therealong, refractory blocks suspended from said loadcarrying members of said swing door to define a unitary roof and wall closure for the feed opening, a pair of upwardly-projecting support members carried by the support framework of the furnace and defining a substantial horizontal positioning axis for said swing door, said unitary frame having a pair of connecting members projecting upwardly and solely pivotally-mounting said door on said positioning axis for pivotal-swinging movement on said positioning axis from a closed position with respect to the feed opening in alignment with said open portion to an inwardly-declining open position with respect to said open portion and within the feed opening and with the wall part projecting-outwardly of the wall part of the furnace; said connecting members projecting upwardly and outwardly of the furnace, being connected at their upper-outward reaches, and being pivotallymounted on said positioning axis adjacent said reaches for carrying said door in an off-balanced relationship with respect to its center of gravity whereby said swing door will normally swing to its open position about said positioning axis, and means cooperating with said door to pivotally swing it on said positioning axis from its open position to its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,611,819 Davison Dec. 21, 1926 2,386,565 Nissim Oct. 9, 1945 2,759,723 Crespi Aug. 21, lf956 

1. IN A FURNACE THAT IS TO BE CHARGED WITH SCRAP MATERIAL FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE MELTING, A SUPPORT FRAMEWORK FOR THE FURNACE HAVING ROOF AND WALL PARTS, SAID SUPPORT FRAMEWORK HAVING LOAD-CARRYING MEMBERS THEREALONG, REFRACTORY MEANS SUSPENDED FROM THE LOAD-CARRYING MEMBERS TO DEFINE AN INNER LINING FOR THE ROOF AND WALL PARTS, SAID REFRACTORY MEANS FOR THE ROOF AND WALL PARTS HAVING AN OPEN PORTION AT AN UPPER CORNER PORTION OF THE FURNACE DEFINING A FEED OPENING THEREAT, A SWING DOOR HAVING A UNITARY FRAME PROVIDED WITH LOAD-CARRYING MEMBERS THEREALONG, REFRACTORY BLOCKS SUSPENDED FROM THE LOADCARRYING MEMBERS OF SAID DOOR TO DEFINE A UNITARY ROOF AND WALL CLOSURE FOR THE FEED OPENING, RIGID SUPPORT MEMBERS DEFINING A POSITIONING AXIS ABOVE THE UPPER CORNER PORTION OF THE FURNACE AND ABOUT WHICH SAID SWING DOOR IS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED, AND MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID SWING DOOR TO FULLY PIVOTALLY-SWING IT ABOUT SAID POSITIONING AXIS FROM A CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE FEED OPENING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID OPEN PORTION OF SAID ROOF AND WALL PARTS TO AN INWARDLY-DECLINING OPEN POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPEN PORTION AND WITHIN THE FEED OPENING AND OUTWARDLY OF THE WALL PART. 